Figure iii



March 31, 1964 Filed Jan. 3. 1961 M. MIRSKY ETAL METHOD OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet l H AH Lg INVENTORS John W. Tinning Monroe Mirsky ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 M. MIRSKY ETAL 3,126,624

METHOD OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Jan 3, 1961 3 snets-sneet 2 INVENTORS John W. Tinnin-q',

Monroe Mirsky BY MEM ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 M. MIRSKY ETAL 3,126,624

METHOD OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Jan. 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS John Tinning Monroe Mirsky 3,126,624 METHOD OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS Monroe Mirsiry, Houston, and John W. Tinning, Dallas,

Ten, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Dresser Industries, Inc, Dallas County, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 80,343 3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 29-450) This invention is concerned with the protection of pipe in oil and gas wells by flexible and elastic protector sleeves, and is particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for applying such protector sleeves to the pipe.

In producing gas and oil wells, it is customary to perforate the casing adjacent the producing formation, and a string of pipe, known as a tubing, is run into the casing through which the oil or gas is produced. The portion of the tubing extending through the casing opposite the perforations is subjected to abrasive and erosive action of sand laden fluid jetted into the casing under high pressure through the perforations; and the tubing is further subjected to corrosive action by chemicals either injected into the well for treating the producing formation, or chemicals which are already present in the production fluid. Such erosive and corrosive action has a tendency to Weaken and eventually perforate the wall of the tubing, requiring that the tubing be pulled and replaced.

It is, therefore, desirable that provision be made for protecting the tubing from such erosive, corrosive and abrasive action.

Heretofore it has been the practice to stretch a plurality of relatively short elastic sleeves about the tubing in abutting relationship, or to coat the outer surface of the tubing with a plastic coating material in an attempt to protect same.

Such means have not been entirely satisfactory because the short lengths of protectors were difficult and laborious to apply. The jetted fluid often forced the protector sleeves apart, permitting abrasive and corrosive fluid to reach the tubing and damage same. No satisfactory method or means has been devised to apply such short tubing protectors continuously over a plurality of joints of pipe and over the couplings therebetween in a manner such that there would be a continuous covering of protector material which would positively protect the tubing at all times.

Coating materials applied to the surface of tubing have proved unsatisfactory because they are so thin as to wear through in a relaively short period of time and are subject to attack by corrosive fluid in the well.

In applicants method, an elongated one piece sleeve or tube of synthetic rubber material is pulled onto joints of pipe by mechanical means operating in conjunction with air under pressure, and the method hereinafter de scribed and claimed permits a plurality of joints of tubing to be covered by a series of sleeves wherein the sleeves are extended in overlapping relationship over the couplings between the joints without the necessity of providing a filler at the juncture between the sleeves.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a method of applying one or a plurality of integral elastic sleeves on one or a plurality of sections of pipe to be disposed in a well to provide a continuous uninterrupted protective covering for the tubing for a desired length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of covering a plurality of joints of tubing with a plurality of integral elastic sleeves extending over each joint of the tubing and overlapping at the couplings between joints of tubing to provide a continuous covering of tires aten resilient protective material for such plurality of joints of tubing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of mounting integral elastic sleeves on adjoining joints of tubing by pulling a sleeve over the pin end of one joint through the full length of the joint of tubing, reversing the joints and pulling a sleeve over the pin end of another joint until the second-named sleeve overlaps the sleeve on the first named joint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of applying elastic sleeves to a joint of tubing comprising stopping up the pin end of said joint of tubing, placing the end of the sleeve over the pin end, and pulling the sleeve over the joint, as fluid under pressure, such as air, gas, steam, water, oil, or other fluid, is admitted to the other end of the sleeve, to expand same and allow the sleeve to be pulled over the joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of applying an elastic sleeve to a pipe comprising the attachment of a winch to one end of the pipe, placing the end of the sleeve over the other end of the pipe, admitting fluid under pressure into the other end of the sleeve While pulling on it with the winch, to thereby expand the sleeve, and cause it to he slipped over the pipe.

Still another object of the invention is the coupling of two joints of pipe, mounting a winch on one joint, placing one end of an elastic sleeve over the other joint, admitting air under pressure to the end of the sleeve, and pulling .on same With the winch to stretch it over the joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method or" applying a resilient sleeve to a plurality of joints of tubing comprising the joining of two joints of tubing, the placing of the end of an elastic sleeve over the pin end of one of the joints, the attachment of a winch to the other joint and to the end of the sleeve, admitting fluid under pressure to the other end of the sleeve while it is being pulled on by the winch to pull the sleeve over the joint; reversing the ends of the joints, attaching the winch to the other joint, placing a sleeve over the outer end of the pin end or" the uncovered joint, admitting fluid under pressure to the outer end of said sleeve, and pulling on it with the winch to stretch it over the uncovered joint, and over the coupling between the joints to overlap the sleeves on the two joints.

Still another object of the invention is to provide method for applying a resilient sleeve to a joint of pipe including a winch attachable near one end of the joint of pipe; support means for the pipe adjacent the winch; roller support means near the other end of the pipe; a pull-on adapter attachable to one end of the sleeve and extendable over the end of the pipe; an air adapter positionable in the other end of the sleeve; means for admitting fluid under pressure through said air adapter to the interior of the sleeve; and a Winch cable attachable to the pull-on device, whereby the sleeve may be pulled onto the pipe by the winch, as fluid under pressure is admitted thereto for expanding same to permit the sleeve to be pulled over the pipe.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE I is a side elevational view of the apparatus employed in applying an elastic sleeve to a joint, or joints, of Well tubing by the method hereinafter described;

FIGURE II is a cross-sectional, elevational view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. I;

FIGURE III is a cross-sectional, elevational view taken on the line III-III of FIG. I;

FIGURE IV is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the air adapter employed with the apparatus;

FIGURE V is a perspective view of the air adapter and of the clamp employed in attaching the end of the elastic sleeve to the air adapter;

FIGURE VI is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the pin end of a joint of tubing with the thread cover inserted therein and showing an elastic protector sleeve stretched thereover;

FIGURE VII is a perspective view of the pin end of a joint of tubing and the thread protector plug ready for insertion therein;

FIGURE VIII i a cross-sectional view of the pull-on adapter attached in the end of an elastic protector sleeve and being extended over a joint of tubing;

FIGURE IX is a perspective view of the pull-on adapter and a hose clamp employed in securing the end of the elastic sleeve to the pull-on adapter; and

FIGURE X is a side elevational view of the coupling between two joints of well tubing, with elastic protector sleeves stretched thereover by the method herein described, with the ends of the elastic sleeves in overlapping relationship.

Numerals are employed to designate the various parts shown in the drawings, and like numerals designate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates the flexible protector sleeve or tube which is made of oil-resistant elastic material such as synthetic rubber, known as neoprene. The protector sleeve 1 is of sufficient length to extend over a joint of standard upset Well tubing, and preferably has an enlarged or belled portion 2 at one end thereof for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

As shown in FEGURE 1, two joints of upset tubing are joined together, and are indicated by the numerals 3 and 5. The joint of tubing 3 includes a pin end 4 which has a threaded portion 4a thereon and a box end 8 which is threadedly joined to the pin end 7 of the section of tubing 5. The section of tubing has a box end 6.

A conventional power winch 9 has a base plate 10 secured thereto from which the downwardly extending brackets 11, which may be employed for attaching to a suitable base (not shown), if desired, by means of the latral flanges 12 extending outwardly therefrom.

The winch 9 may be attached to the joint of tubing 5, or any other joint of pipe, by means of U-bolts 13 and 14 which embrace the pipe 15, extend through holes (not shown) in the base plate .10, and are tightened in place by nuts 13a and 14a.

The section of pipe 5, with the winch 9 secured thereto, may be mounted on angularly disposed support legs 17 and 18, by sliding such support legs through the tubular sleeves and 16, which are welded to the base plate 16, and securing same in adjusted position by means of the set screws 15 and 20.

The power winch 10 includes a cable 21 wound about a reel 22 which is rotated by an electric motor 28 through a suitable gear train 29. Power is supplied to the motor 28 from a battery (not shown) through the batter-y cables 28a and 2812, which may be clamped to the terminals on the battery by means of the clamps 23c and 28d on the outer ends of said cables.

A hook 23 is provided on the end of the cable 21, which may be hooked in the middle link of a length of pull chain 24. The chain 24 has a swivel hook 25 on each end thereof, which may be hooked in the cars 33 on the pull-on fitting St}, for the purposes hereinafter described.

A foot pedal switch 26 is provided for energizing the reel motor 28 with the foot of the operator.

The pull-on fitting 39 includes a substantially tubular member, having a bore 31 therethrough. The bore 31 is larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the A joint of tubing 3 about which it is disposed to provide an annular space 32 between the bore 31 and the outside diameter of the joint of pipe 3. The annular space 32 permits air to escape after passing through sleeve 1, and also provides a loose fit about the pipe to permit the pullon fitting to be easily pulled over the pipe.

A pair of cars 33 are provided on the pull-on fitting 39 in which may be hooked the swivel hooks 25, attached to the outer ends of the chain 24. The cars 33 are preferably spaced on diametrically opposite sides of pull on fitting 3% so that the pull thereon will be evenly distributed to prevent binding of the fitting against the pipe.

An annular groove is provided about the pull-on fitting 3t), and the enlarged belled end 2 of the tubing protector sleeve 1 may be disposed thereover and a hose clamp 35 may be clamped in place about the end of the elastic sleeve 1 and the pull-on fitting 30, in the groove 34, in order to secure the end of the elastic sleeve 1 to the pull-on fitting.

The roller stand 38 includes a base 39, and a laterally extending roller support 40 at the upper end thereof. The roller support 49 includes angularly disposed upper sides 41 to which are mounted the rollers 42 in angular relationship. A joint of pipe either with or without the elastic sleeve thereover may be disposed on the rollers 32 so that when the elastic sleeve is pulled toward the winch, as shown in FIG. I, same will move on the rollers 42.

The air adapter 46 includes a hollow nipple 4-4 to which is threadedly attached a head 45, having a shoulder 46 on the outer peripheral edge thereof.

The other end of the elastic sleeve 1 may be disposed over the head 45, and a hose clamp extended thereabout and secured in place to firmly attach the end of the elastic sleeve 1 to the air adapter 43.

A threaded passage 48 is provided in the end of the nipple 44 at which is threadedly engaged an air fitting 4-9 through which air under pressure may be admitted to the air adapter and to the interior of the elastic sleeve 1 for the purposes hereinafter described.

A suitable connection 50 is provided on the air fitting 49 for attachment to an air hose 51, which in turn is attached through valves 60 and 6 1, pressure gauges 62 and 63, and pressure regulator 64 to the pressure tank 59, which is supplied with air under pressure by a compressor 57, driven by an internal combustion engine 53.

A thread cover plug 53 has a bullet-like nose 54 thereon, a skirt 55 thereabout, and a plug portion 56. The plug portion 56 may he slipped into the pin end 4 of the joint of tubing 3, or any other joint of tubing, and the skirt 55 will extend over the threads 4a thereon, to close the end of the tubing joint and protect the threads on the pin end thereof. Since air under pressure is admitted to the flexible protector sleeve 1 toward the bullet-like end 54 of the thread protector 53, there is no tendency for same to be expelled from the pipe. On the other hand it is forced thereinto, as air under pressure is admitted to the elastic protector sleeve 1 in the manner hereinafter described.

The operation and function of the apparatus herein described, and the practice of the method hereof, is as follows:

The joints of upset tubing 3 and 5 are screwed together at the couplings inidcated at 7 and 8 by a loose make-up. The pipe joint 5 is then lifted, and the winch 9 is secured to the joint 5 by the U-clamps 13 and 14. The legs 17 and 13 are extended through the sleeves 15 and 16 and fixed in adjusted position by the set screws 19 and 20. The pin end 4 of the joint 3 is then disposed on the rollers 42. The end of protector sleeve 1 is belled or enlarged in diameter, as indicated at 2, so that it may be slipped over the enlarged extension of pull-on fitting 30. After end 2 of sleeve 1 is extended over pull-on fitting 30, it is secured thereto by hose clamp 35 (FIG. VIII). The thread protector plug 53 is inserted in the pin end of the joint 3, and the pull-on fitting 30, with the protector sleeve 1 attached thereto, is placed over the end of the pin end 4 of the tubing joint 3 to a position where the pull-on sleeve is past the rollers 42. The hooks 25 are then attached to the ears 33 of pull-on fitting 30, and the winch cable 21 is attached to the chain 24.

The air fitting 43 is then attached in the outer end of the protector sleeve 1 in the manner shown in FIG. IV, and the air hose 51 is attached in communication therewith. Air is then admitted through the hose 51 and through the air fitting 43 to the interior of the protector sleeve 1 and proceeds between the protector sleeve and the tubing 3, and out through the annular passage 32 between the pull-on fitting and the tubing joint 3. The compressed air thus admitted between the protector sleeve and the tubing joint, expands the elastic sleeve, as shown in FIG. VI, which is preferably initially slightly less in interior diameter than the outside diameter of the pipe on which it is placed.

The winch 9, which has been previously attached to a source of power, such as a battery, is then actuated by pressing the foot switch 26, causing the cable 21 to pull toward the winch, thereby pulling the protector sleeve onto the pipe joint 3.

The expansion of the protector sleeve by the air under pressure admitted thereto in the manner hereinbefore described, permits the protector sleeve to be easily drawn over the pipe 3, and as it is drawn thereover, the protector sleeve rolls on the rollers 42. The sleeve 1 is continued to be pulled over the joint 3 until it extends over the box end 8 of the joint 3. It will be noted that at this time the elastic material of the sleeve 1 is stretched and extended to some extent by pulling thereon. The elastic sleeve is severed at a point beyond the pin end 4, and the stretch is thus released therefrom. The elastic retraction of the sleeve, causes the sleeve to move back to the position indicated at 65 in FIG. X, so that the pin end of the joint 3 is actually left bare.

The winch 9 and support legs 17 are then removed from the joint 5, the coupling at 7 and 8 is disconnected, and the positions of the joints 3 and 5 are reversed. That is to say, the box end 6 of the joint 5 is screwed onto the pin end 4 of the joint 3. The winch 9 and legs 17 and 18 are attached to the joint 3, and a protector sleeve is pulled over the pin end 7 of the joint 5, in the manner hereinbefore described. The protector sleeve is continued to be drawn over the joint 5 and past the coupling between the box end 6 and pin end 4, as shown in FIG. X, until it extends considerably beyond the end 65 as shown in FIG. X. The protector sleeve 1 is then released by severing same from the pull-on fitting 3i), and the protector sleeve will elastically retract to some extent with the end indicated at 66 in FIG. X, overlapping the end 65 of the first applied protector sleeve. It will thus be seen that the joint between the two sections of the joints 3 and 5 are completely covered with protector sleeves, and that the couplings therebetween is covered and protected by the overlapping ends of the protector sleeves. A plurality of joints of pipe may be covered in such a way with the couplings therebetween covered, so as to provide a continuous covering of protector sleeves throughout a desired length of the tubing string in the well.

Of course, the apparatus and method can be employed and practiced to cover a single joint of tubing if desired, but it has particular utility in covering a plurality of joints of tubing string with a continuous sheath of covering material.

Since the rubber-like sleeves 1 are pulled onto the joints of tubing under tension, and since they are slightly lesser in interior diameter than the outside diameter of the tubing joint, they are elastically retracted about the pipe by frictional contact therewith, and do not have a tendency to crawl or slip on the joint after being installed, and do not require any adhesive or clamping devices to hold them in place on the tubing joint.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a method and apparatus of placing elongated sections of elastic sleeves on tubing joints, eificiently and with the least amount of labor and time, and in such a way that a plurality of such elastic sleeves may be placed on a plurality of joints, with overlapping ends in such a manner that the couplings between the joints are covered without the necessity of employing inserts or adhesive material or clamps to attach the ends of the sleeves, and they are applied in such a way that the sleeves do not have a tendency to slip or crawl on the pipe, and in efiect, provide a continuous sheath for a plurality of joints of tubing as may be desired.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of our invention may be made and devised, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of placing protector sleeves on two sections of upset tubing each having a bell end and a pin end comprising the steps of: Coupling the bell end of one tubing section to the pin end of the other tubing section pulling an elastic protector sleeve over the pin end of said one tubing section until the elastic sleeve covers said one tubing section; cutting ofl the elastic sleeve adjacent the said pin end, allowing it to retract away from the pin end; uncoupling the bell end of said one tubing section from the pin end of the other tubing section; coupling the pin end of said one tubing section to the bell end of said other tubing section; pulling an elastic sleeve over the pin end of the other tubing section until it overlaps the coupling between the two sections and the end of the first named elastic sleeve; and cutting off the end of the second named elastic sleeve adjacent the coupling so that the ends of the respective elastic sleeves are in overlapping relationship adjacent the joint between the tubing sections.

2. The method called for in claim 1 with the addition of the steps of simultaneously admitting fluid under pressure to the elastic sleeves as they are pulled on the sections of tubing.

3. A method of applying elastic sleeves to a plurality of sections of upset tubing comprising the steps of: Coupling the bell end of one tubing section to the pin end of the other tubing section; supporting joined tubing sections in horizontal elevated position; closing the pin end of the said one tubing section; placing an end of an elastic sleeve over the closed pin end of said one tubing section; mounting a force exerting member on the said other tubing section; exerting a pulling force on the end of the elastic sleeve by the force exerting means while simultaneously admitting compressed air on the other end of the elastic sleeve so as to expand said sleeve to facilitate assembling thereof on the said one tubing section; cutting off the elastic sleeve adjacent the said pin end; allowing it to retract away from the pin end to expose same; uncoupling the bell end of said one tubing section from the pin end of said other tubing section; coupling the pin end of said one tubing section to the bell end of said other tubing section; attaching the force exerting means to the said one tubing section; closing the exposed pin end of the said other tubing section; placing the end of an elastic sleeve over the closed pin end of said other tubing section; pulling the elastic sleeve by the force exerting means over the said pin end of the said other tubing section until the end thereof overlaps the coupling etween the two joints and the end of the first named elastic sleeve; while simultaneously admitting compressed air to the other end of last named elastic sleeve so as to expand said sleeve to facilitate assembling thereof on the said other tubing section; and releasing the end of the second named elastic sleeve adjacent the coupling so that the ends of the respective elastic sleeves are in overlapping relationship adjacent the coupling between the tubing sections.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thacher et a1 Dec. 27, 1887 Breymann Aug. 13, 1889 5 Claiborne Nov. 12, 1907 Ny Feb. 21, 1922 Johnson Dec. 27, 1938 Phillips May 14, 1940 Searle Apr. 18, 1944 Van Orden Dec. 16, 1947 Breisch Feb. 21, 1950 Turner Feb. 12, 1952 Brissey et a1 Aug. 20, 1957 Edwards July 1, 1958 Rohrback et a1 Oct. 6, 1959 Aydelott Jan. 12, 1960 

1. A METHOD OF PLACING PROTECTOR SLEEVES ON TWO SECTIONS OF UPSET TUBING EACH HAVING A BELL END AND A PIN END COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: COUPLING THE BELL END OF ONE TUBING SECTION TO THE PIN END OF THE OTHER TUBING SECTION PULLING AN ELASTIC PROTECTOR SLEEVE OVER THE PIN END OF SAID ONE TUBING SECTION UNTIL THE ELASTIC SLEEVE COVERS SAID ONE TUBING SECTION; CUTTING OFF THE ELASTIC SLEEVE ADJACENT THE SAID PIN END, ALLOWING IT TO RETRACT AWAY FROM THE PIN END; UNCOUPLING THE BELL END OF SAID ONE TUBING SECTION FROM THE PIN END OF THE OTHER TUBING SECTION; COUPLING THE PIN END OF SAID ONE TUBING SECTION TO THE BELL END OF SAID OTHER TUBING SECTION; PULLING AN ELASTIC SLEEVE OVER THE PIN END OF THE OTHER TUBING SECTION UNTIL IT OVERLAPS THE COUPLING BETWEEN THE TWO SECTIONS AND THE END OF THE FIRST NAMED ELASTIC SLEEVE; AND CUTTING OFF THE END OF THE SECOND NAMED ELASTIC SLEEVE ADJACENT THE COUPLING SO THAT THE ENDS OF THE RESPECTIVE ELASTIC SLEEVES ARE IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP ADJACENT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE TUBING SECTIONS. 